The Linguistics Minor

For Students in the College of Arts and Sciences

In order to declare a Linguistics minor, you must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher (i.e., not be on probation). There are no other admissions requirements to the Linguistics minor, although it is strongly recommended that you have taken or be enrolled in an introductory class in linguistics.

A Linguistics minor may be of particular interest to Arts and Sciences majors in foreign languages, as well as for majors in such fields as speech and hearing sciences, psychology, computer science, and anthropology.

Requirements for the Linguistics minor:

Introductory course in linguistics. (5 credits)

• For details, see Introductory Classes page.

Core courses (15 credits):

• Three of:
  • Phonetics I (LING 450)
  • Syntax I (LING 461)
  • Phonology I (LING 451)
  • Syntax II (LING 462)
  • Sociolinguistics I (LING 432)
  • Semantics I (LING 442)
  • Introduction to Morphology (LING 481)
  (5 credits each)

It is highly recommended that two of the three courses be Phonetics I (LING 450) and Syntax I (LING 461).

Elective courses (12 credits):

• Additional credits in linguistics or related fields. Six of the twelve credits must be upper division. For details, see the Elective Requirement section on the Linguistics major page.

Total credits: 32

For Students in the College of Education

A secondary minor in Linguistics has also been approved by the College of Education for a Washington State teaching endorsement in a foreign language. A secondary minor is one open to both secondary and elementary level candidates. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for Arts and Sciences minors in Linguistics, you must also complete:

• 15 credits of coursework at the 300 level (or higher) in a particular language (with at least a 2.0 grade in each course), as well as at least 5 credits in the history or culture of the speakers of that language;
• One course in pedagogical methods for that language (completed with a 2.0 grade or better);
• (For some languages) a proficiency examination in the language. Some language departments require a proficiency exam for a teaching endorsement for a minor in that language (sometimes in place of the 15 credits at the 300 level). With respect to the proficiency exam, a Linguistics minor is subject to the same requirements that a minor in a particular language is subject to.

For more information, inquire at the College of Education (Teacher Education Program, 211 Miller Hall, Box 353600, 543-1820) or at the department which offers the language. The Linguistics undergraduate adviser can sign student applications for the Teacher Education program (under the minor department).

If you have any further questions or comments please contact us at phoneme@u.washington.edu

Last modified 3/9/2007 by Anya Dormer